diff --git a/.gitlab/ci.sh b/.gitlab/ci.sh
index 6c030a4e62328f491f1bd9218d816b8289726aeb..48c34ec4fcd7c37d3bb5e67b77679bf13bd1a14f 100755
--- a/.gitlab/ci.sh
+++ b/.gitlab/ci.sh
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ function test_hadrian() {
         ;;
       *)
         read -r -a args <<< "${INSTALL_CONFIGURE_ARGS:-}"
-        run ./configure --prefix="$TOP"/_build/install "${args[@]}"
+        run ./configure --prefix="$TOP"/_build/install "${args[@]+"${args[@]}"}" 
         run "$MAKE" install
         ;;
     esac